The Bears put 11 players on the honorary squad, including five on the first team. The Eagles placed nine, with four of them first-teamers.

Tusculum had six players recognized, including first-team quarterback Bo Cordell, who last season became the SAC's all-time leader in passing yards and total offense. Cordell — who passed for 3,244 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2012 — enters the season 2,388 yards shy of breaking the Division II career passing yards record.

After helping their teams finish first and second in the nation, respectively, in rushing offense last season, Carson-Newman’s Brandon Baker and Lenoir-Rhyne’s Jarrod Spears were the first-team selections at running back. Baker led the SAC in rushing last year with 1,468 yards. Spears ranked third with 994.

Also among the honorees were Carson-Newman offensive tackle Alex Taylor of Bristol, Tenn., who made the first team, and C-N linebacker Jaycob Coleman of Norton, who was selected to the second team.